Forest use in medieval Serbia

Vranić, Mirko and Fostikov, Aleksandra and Pavlović, Nemanja (2026) Forest use in medieval Serbia. In: 32nd EAA Annual Meeting (Athens, 2026) – Abstract Book. European Association of Archaeologists. ISBN 978-80-88441-12-0

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Abstract

Forests were among the key natural resources of medieval Serbian society, given that the central Balkan region—excluding its Mediterranean areas—is rich in forest vegetation. The multifaceted role of wood is evident in construction (as a structural material), economic activities (mining and metallurgy, crafts, and manufacturing production), and everyday consumption. Data on tree species and terminology in connection to them as well as information on their usage, are drawn primarily from historical sources (charters, legal texts, and other documents), iconographic evidence, local toponymy, and modest but increasingly frequent archaeological (anthracological) analyses of samples from diverse contexts (fortifications, settlements, mine shafts, metallurgical remains, etc.). Environmental factors influencing forest use are also taken into account. This paper aims to provide a comprehensive overview of current knowledge and to highlight the potential of an interdisciplinary approach to the study of forest use in medieval Serbia. In this way, the study also opens possibilities for further comparison within a broader and better-researched European context

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